Analysts say they have found inconsistencies in the reported number of Tasmanians employed in the gambling sector as they begin to probe the impact of phasing out poker machines.

The Gambling on the Future paper from The Australia Institute, released on Monday, questioned the number of people in the sector, saying Australian Bureau of Statistics data found the number employees sat at about 1500.

This compared to a 2015 social and economic impact study which said the number was more than 4000.

Australia Institute Tasmanian director Leanne Minshull found many businesses with a gaming licence said often their employees only work in gaming roles about 19 per cent of the time.

“It’s just the way that people are quoting their numbers that’s really led to this confusion,” Ms Minshull said.

“We want to provide as much of our analysis and research as we can so people in communities can make informed choices about the future of the industry.

“It’s the right time to look at what needs to be done in the future to make sure that we’re maximising the state economy and we’re minimising harm to people.”

But Treasurer Peter Gutwein said he had no reason to doubt the numbers previously given to the government through an ACIL Allen Consulting study.

“The Australia Institute report, as far as I’m concerned, reflects those that have driven the report,” he said.

“I feel very confident in the numbers that were provided by ACIL.”

The paper also found the cost of poker machine-related problem gambling exceeded revenue from poker machine-related gambling taxes and fees.

Tasmanian author James Boyce, who released a book on the gaming industry in the state, said with many machines based in lower socioeconomic areas, spending was often high in disadvantaged communities.

“About $200 million is taken out of the Tasmanian economy every year and it's not from saving, we know that from the research, it’s from money that would be spent otherwise,” Boyce said.

“Other areas of expenditure employ far more people than poker machines.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the cost of poker machines outweighed the benefits.

“These numbers tell a devastatingly sad story of avoidable human suffering caused by the proliferation of pokies in pubs and clubs in Tasmania,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Poker machines claim lives and they steal money out of the pockets of some of our poorest people.”